Permutation lock



Jan. l10, 1939. l. A. LADlzlNsKY PERMUTAT ION LOCK Filed Feb. 4:21,l 1958 5f@ l 2l Patented Jan. l0, 1939 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to permutation locks, but has reference more particularly to a lock of this character which is peculiarly adapted for personal use.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a lock of the character described, the combination of which can be easily and quickly changed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock of the character described, the combination of which can be changed without the use of tools, without taking the lock apart and without resorting to any parts of the lock other than those Which are external of the casing and can be readily manipulated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock of rugged construction, and consisting oi a minimum number of inexpensively manufactured parts.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then, consists of the elements hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed elements constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the inventon may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the lock;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lock, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lock, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, but with various parts omitted to more clearly show the base of the lock.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the parts as they appear when the bolt has been partially projected through the casing of the lock;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal crosssectional view of the lock, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the rackbar retaining cups; and

Fig. '7. is a perspective vitw ofthe other rackbar retaining cup.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the lock will be seen to comprise a casing which is adapted to fit within a mortise or recess in a door and which consists of a base I and a cover 2, the base and cover, after the assembly of the various parts being secured together in any desired manner as by rivets, welding, or the like.

The base I is provided with a pair of upstand ing abutments 3 adjacent which the bolt 4 of the lock is disposed, the bolt being slidably mounted on the base and provided at one side with gear teeth 5 engaged by a pinion 6. The pinion 6 has a trunnion 'I which extends through the cover 2 of the casing and has secured thereto, as by a set screw 8, a knurled knob 9, the pinion being thereby rotated to cause one end of the bolt 4 v to be projected from and retracted into the casing, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Mounted within a recess Ill in the base I for sliding movement in a direction transverse to that of the bolt 4 is a latch or rack-bar II provided at one end with gear teeth I2 in mesh with the pinion 6. This rack bar has a limited degree of longitudinal movement between the ends I3 and I4 of the recess I6), and is provided in its upper surface with a series of transversely extending equally-spaced grooves or recesses i5, I6 and I'I of equal depth, and with similar recesses I8 and I9, respectively, disposed between the recesses I5 and I6 and IG and I1, the recesses It and I9 being cf somewhat less depth than recesses I5, I6 and II. The bar II is further provided adjacent one end with an elevated portion formed by two oppositely sloping surfaces 20 and 2|.

The recess IE] is intersected in its medial portion by concentric circular grooves or recesses 22 and 23 which are formed in the base I, but are not as deep as the recess I0. Disposed within the recess 22 is the annular ange 24 of a cup-like member 25 which is also provided with a smaller annular liange 2B having a beveled surface 21 at one end. The iiange 24 has a portion thereof cut away to provide a recess 28 which is of a length equal to the width of the rack bar II, which extends radially from the ilange 24 and serves a purpose to be presently described.

A similar cup-like member 3G is provided, having an annular flange 3| extending into the recess 23, and a smaller annular flange 32 having a beveled surface 33 at one end. The flange 3I of the member Sil is cut away to form a recess 34 of the same length as the reccess 28 in the ange 24. The member 30 is also provided with a small knob or button 35 (Figs. 5 and 6), which serves a purpose hereinafter explained.

v The members 25 and 30 are retained in position by the flange 3G of a rotatable cup-like member 3l which extends through the cover 2 of the lock and has threadedly secured thereto a dial 38. The dial 38 has an index mark 39- at one point adjacent its periphery, and this mark is used in conjunction with the usual graduations 40 on the cover 2 of the lock for determining the movements of the dial 38 required to open the lock.

The member 31 has a square aperture in its center through which extends the square shank 4l of a coupling member 42. The member 42 has an axial bore 43 through which extends the cylindrical shank 44 of a second coupling member 45. The member 45 has a pointed member 49 projecting therefrom and into abutment with the rack bar Il, and the shank 44 has a reduced portion 41 of square cross-section extending therefrom and into an aperture 48 of corresponding cross-section in the base of a knurled dial 49 which extends through the dial 38 and is rotatable independently of the latter. The dial 49 is provided at one point adjacent its periphery with an index mark 59, this mark being used in conjunction with graduations 5l on the dial 38 for determining the movements of the dial 49 required to open the lock.

A spring washer 52 is interposed between the inner surface of the dial 49 and the member 31, and this spring tends to normally hold the dial 49 in its outermost position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Secured to the base i, directly behind the member 45, as by means of a screw 53 is a spring 54, which bears against the member 45 and serves a purpose to be presently described.

Mounted between the recesses 22 and 23, on the base i, for pivotal movement in a direction transverse to the plane of the base are a pair of oppositely disposed dogs 55 and '56, which are of a Width corresponding to the length of the recesses i3 and i9, being designed to enter the recess i8 when the lock is closed, and the recess i9 when the lock is open. These dogs are normally held in the depressed position shown in Fig. 5 by means of flat springs 51 and 58 respectively. Each spring has one end secured .to its dog at a point on the upper surface of the dog and its other end bearing freely on the surface of the base I. The intermediate portion of each spring is bowed, and the bowed portion of the spring 51 is designed to be engaged by the button 35. The bowed portion of the spring 58 is designed to be engaged by the pin 29. The function of these dogs will be presently described.

The operation of the lock will now be briefly described. It will be assumed that the lock is closed, the bolt 4 projecting from the casing as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and that it is desired to open the lock, that is, retract the bolt so that it lies entirely within the casing. In the closed condition of the lock, the flanges 24 and3i of the members 25 and 39, respectively, are disposed within the grooves i5 and i6 of the bar H, thereby preventing movement of the bar, and, rotation of the knob 9 for the purpose of retracting the bolt 4.

In order to open the lock, it is necessary to align the recesses 23 and 34 with the rack-bar ll, so that the rack-bar can be moved by the knob 9 downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, the bolt 4 being retracted at the same time. In order to align the recesses 28 and 34 with the rack-bar, the dials 49 and 38 must be turned either clockwise or counter-clockwise to the marks selected for the combination on the graduated scales 5I and 40, respectively. In turning the dial 49, the member 25 is simultaneously turned, through the intermediary of the coupling member 45, which is in frictional engagement with the inner surfaceof the flange 25 thereof. In turning the dial 38, the member 39 is simultaneously turned through the intermediary of the member 31 and coupling member 42, the latter being in frictional engagement with the inner surface of the flange 32 of the member 39. It will be understood that since the dial 33 is movable, the graduations 5l thereon are also movable, and that it is accordingly necessary to always first set the dial 38 when opening or closing the lock.

In moving the rack bar to the position shown in Fig. 3, the sloping surface 29 of such bar engages the pointed member 46 of the coupling member 45, pushing the latter as well as the coupling member 42 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby uncoupling the dials 49 and 39 from the members 25 and 39 respectively. If a person should now inadvertently or purposely turn the dials 49 and 38, without rst depressing the dial 49, no harm will ensue, since the members 25 and 39 remain stationary, unless coupled with these dials. To avoid a contingency wherein the dials 49 and 38 are thus turned and the dial 49 then depressed so as to coup-le the members, it is advisable, after the lock has been opened as aforesaid, to immediately depress the dial 49, so that the members will be coupled and the lock in a condition in which it cannot be tampered with. been thus depressed, the flanges 24 and 3l of the members 25 and 39 will respectively enter the recesses l1 and I6 in the rack bar, and lock the bar against upward movement, so that it will only be necessary to reset the combination in order to raise the bar to close the lock.

Where the dial 49 has been depressed, and

the dials 49 and 33 thereby coupled with the members 25 and 39, if it is desired to close the lock, it is only necessary to set the dials 49 and 38 at the desired positions forming the combination, whereupon the bar Il may be elevated to its uppermost position. In the course of thus elevating the bar, by means of the knob 9, the

sloping surface 2 l, of the bar engages the pointed 5,

member 46 of the coupling member 45, pushing the latter, as well as the coupling member 42 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby uncoupling the dials 49 and 38 from the members 25 and 3D.

respectively. After the lock has been thus closed, it is necessary to immediately depress the dial 49, so that the members will be coupled and the lock in a condition in which it cannot be tampered with. After the dial 49 has been thus l depressed, the dials should be turned to lose the and guiding the coupling members to their coupling position when the dial 49 is depressed. If desired, gear teeth may be provided on the flanges 23 and 32 and on the coupling members to assure a more positive driving connection. The

spring 54 prevents engagement of the coupling;

members with the cups, except at such times when the dial 49 is depressed.

The combination of the lock may be changed as often as desired, and for this purpose, it is only necessary, when the bar Il is freely movable In turning the dials after the dial 49 has A;.

in its recess, to reset the dials to the new combination and then depress the dial 49 to couple the mem-bers. In other Words, the combination of the lock may be changed Without taking the lock apart or manipulation of any parts inside the lock casing, as is required in the usual types of permutation locks.

The dogs 55 and 56 are designed to prevent tampering with the lock, or unauthorized opening thereof. But for the presence of these dogs, if one of the dials was properly set for opening, which would be possible if a person tried setting the dial at each graduation successively, the lock could be opened by slowly rotating the other dial and at the same time applying tension to the bar II. He could then pull the bar through the recess 28 or 351 when such recess became properly aligned with the bar. However, by using the dogs 55 and 56, such possibility of opening the lock is minimized, since by exerting tension on the bar I I while trying to open the lock, the dogs will not be elevated from the recess I9, even when the springs 5l and 58 are engaged by the button 35 and pin 29 respectively. In other words, the dogs will not be released, unless there is no tension on the bar I I.

Other modes of applying the principle o-f my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. In a lock of the character described, a bolt and means for controlling the movements of said bolt, said means comprising a plurality of cuplike members, dials for rotating said members, and coupling members interposed between said dials and cup-like members, said coupling members being coaxial with and movable into and out of engagement With said cup-like members.

2. In a lock of the character described, a. bolt, and means for controlling the movements of said bolt, said means comprising flanged rotatable members, dials coaxial with said members, and members movable by one of said dials into engagement with said ilanged members for coupling the latter with said dials.

3, In a lock of the character described, a bolt, and means for controlling the movements of said bolt, said means comprising flanged rotatable members, dials coaxial with said members, and members movable by one of said dials into engagement with said flanged members for coupling the latter with said dials, and spring means opposing the movement of the dial-movable m-embers.

4. In a lock of the character described, a bolt,

and means for controlling the movements of said bolt, said means comprising a bar having spaced recesses therein, rotatable members having ilanges movable in said recesses, dials for each of said members, and members movable by one of said dials into engagement with said iianged members for coupling the latter with said dials, and means on said bar for moving said coupling members out of engagement with said flanged members.

5. In a lock of the character described, a bolt, and means for contro-lling the movements of said bolt, said means comprising a bar having spaced recesses therein, rotatable members having flanges movable through said recesses, dials for each of said members, members movable by one of said dials into engagement with said anged members for coupling the latter with said dials, spring means opposing the movement of the dialmovable members, and means associated with said bar for moving said coupling members out of engagement with said anged members.

6. In a lock of the character described, a bolt, and means for controlling the movements of said bolt, said means comprising a bar having spaced recesses therein, rotatable members having flanges movable through said recess, dials for each of said members, a member movable by one of said dials into engagement with one of said flanged members, said member having a square shank and an axial bore therethrough, and a member movable by the same dial into engagement with another of said flanged members, said last-named member having a cylindrical shank extending through said bore.

7. In a lock of the character described, a bolt, and means for controlling the movements of said bolt, said means comprising a bar having spaced recesses therein, rotatable members having flanges movable through said recesses, dogs normally held in one of said recesses in the bar for preventing movement of the bar, means responsive to the movements of said flanged members, when in desired position, for releasing said dogs from said recess, said dogs being released only when no tension is exerted on said bar.

8. In a lock of the character described, a bolt and means for controlling the movements of said bolt, said means comprising a rotatable member, a dial coaxial with said member, and a member movable by said dial into engagement with said first-named member for coupling the latter with said dial.

9. In a lock of the character described, a bolt, and means for controlling the movements of said bolt, said means comprising a bar, tumblers for preventing movement of said bar, and auxiliary latch means for preventing movement of said bar.

IVAN A. LADIZINSKY. 

